WDM optical network with passive pass-through at each node

ABSTRACT

A communications network has a plurality of nodes interconnected by an optical transmission medium. The transmission medium is capable of a carrying a plurality of wavelengths organized into bands. A filter at each node for drops a band associated therewith and passively forwards other bands through the transmission medium. A device is provided at each node for adding a band to the transmission medium. Communication can be established directly between a pair of nodes in the network sharing a common band without the active intervention of any intervening node. This allows the network to be protocol independent. Also, the low losses incurred by the passive filters permit relatively long path lengths without optical amplification.

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/730,549, filed Dec. 7, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No.6,563,615, which is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/372,576, filed Aug. 12, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,556,321,which is a divisional application of Ser. No. 08/917,784, filed Aug. 27,1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,018.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for establishingcommunication over an optical network employing wavelength divisionmultiplexing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The ever-increasing demand for bandwidth has spurred the growth of highspeed transport networks. Currently, the key standard for use in suchnetworks is SONET, which is an acronym for Synchronous Optical Network.The SONET standard defines a hierarchy of optical transmission ratesover point-to-point and ring network topologies. For example, the SONEToptical carrier-level 3 (OC-3) transmits at 155 Mb/s and OC-12 transmitsat 622 Mb/s.

SONET was developed to provide a survivable transport infrastructurethat could carry a range of different payload protocols and payload bitrates.

Survivability is achieved in SONET using a ring topology with aSONET-defined standard protocol for coordinating traffic restoration inthe event of a failure. On a ring, there are always two diverse routesthat can be used to interconnect any two nodes on the ring. In the eventof a failure of one of those routes, spare capacity on the other routeis used to restore the traffic affected by the failure. In SONET, everynode must terminate the entire optical signal in order to be able toaccess every payload, even though typically, a node would only access asmall subset of the payloads and pass the rest of them downstream toother nodes. Termination of the entire optical signal is also requiredto give each node access to an automatic protection switching (APS)protocol that coordinates access to the spare capacity by the nodeduring failure events. Unfortunately, this requirement of SONET toterminate the entire optical signal at every node makes upgrading thecapacity of the ring a slow and costly process, because every node mustbe upgraded even though it may be that only one node requires theadditional capacity.

In order to carry a variety of payloads and payload bit rates, the SONETstandard defines a payload envelope structure into which all payloadsmust be mapped. This envelope is then carried within one timeslot withinthe time division multiplexed SONET signal. Although this provides aSONET network with the ability to carry a variety of payloads, a newpayload cannot be transported until a mapping is defined and theinterface circuit is developed and deployed. In addition, if there isinsufficient spare capacity in the network to handle the new payload bitrate, then the entire network may have to be upgraded. Thus, SONETnetworks are not responsive to the needs of today's services, which aredemanding greater capacity and introducing a wide range of protocols.

The networks of today's telecommunications carriers typically consist ofan access portion that connects end-users to the carrier's network, anda transport portion (sometimes called backbone or core network) thatprovides the interconnection between the access networks. The accessportion of the network is under pressure to provide a greater variety ofsignal types such as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), asynchronousdigital subscriber loops (ADSL), and SONET, to handle the emergingdiversity of services. These new payloads also tend to require greaterbit rates to support the underlying services. Transport networks areunder pressure to provide more capacity due to the higher bit rateservices coming out of the access networks as well as the growth in thenumber and size of the access networks reflecting the growth in thenumber of end-users.

An object of the invention is to alleviate the limitations inSONET-based networks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a communicationsnetwork employing wavelength division multiplexing, comprising aplurality of nodes; an optical transmission medium interconnecting saidnodes, said transmission medium being capable of a carrying a pluralityof wavelengths organized into bands; and an interface at each node fordropping a band associated therewith, adding a band carrying traffic foranother node, and passively forwarding other bands; wherebycommunication can be established directly between a pair of nodes insaid network sharing a common band without the active intervention ofany intervening node.

A network in accordance with the invention is protocol and bit rateindependent and is therefore more responsive than SONET to the demandsplaced on the access and transport networks of telecommunicationscarriers. Each payload is carried on separate optical wavelengths andpayloads are multiplexed using wavelength division multiplexingtechniques.

A band consists of a group of closely spaced wavelengths. A guard spacenormally exists between the bands to allow for simple filtering of aband out of the overall spectrum. For example, a band may consist offour wavelengths spaced at 1.6 nm intervals giving a total width for theband of 4×1.6=6.4 nm. With a guard band of 3.2 nm, the overall bandspacing would be 6.4+3.2=9.6 nm.

A band is associated with the connection between two nodes, such thatif, for example, node A wishes to communicate with node C viaintervening node B, both node A and node C must access (add/drop) thesame band, say band X. Node A would transmit to node C on band X, whichwould be passively forwarded by intervening node.

The use of bands as distinct from discrete wavelengths allows the filterspecifications to be relaxed in the area of sideband roll-off slopesince there are cascaded filters involved at each node. A primary (orband) filter discriminates a band of wavelengths. Further sub-divisioninto specific channels is done with a narrow width filter(s) that issub-tended after the band filter.

The use of a multi-level filtering approach is more energy efficientthan other arrangements for ring networks. This is due to the fact thatthe band filter is the primary filter element that is repeated aroundthe ring. As nodes are added to the ring, the attenuation loss due tothe band filter element does not rise as fast as the case whereindividual wavelengths are filtered out at a node with the residual bandbeing passed on.

The interface is typically in the form of a filter which separates outthe band to be dropped and forwards the other bands by reflection. Thefilter acts as a multiplexer/demultiplexer which drops and adds the bandassociated with the node from the transmission medium.

The filter is preferably an interference filter with minimal loss,preferably less than 1 dB, and typically 0.5 dB. The division of thewavelength spectrum into bands, each associated with a node, is animportant factor in reducing the loss at the passive filter. Ifindividual wavelengths were employed, losses in the order of 3 to 6 dBcould be expected, and the maximum size of the network would be verymuch restricted.

An important advantage of the present invention is that each wavelengthessentially provides a protocol independent high speed bit pipe betweena pair of nodes with minimal loss.

A node in one embodiment may also include a cross connect switch forchanging wavelengths. For example, if a path is established between nodeA and node C over band c, and between node C and node F over band f, andno path exists between node A and node F, node A can send traffic fornode F first to node C, which drops the band c, detects that the trafficis for node F, and passes it through the cross connect to forward thetraffic in band f, which will be dropped by node F.

The optical path for the network is thus passive except for nodes wherewavelengths are add/dropped. The system also has low overall loss in anywavelength path so that no optical amplifiers need be employed toachieve a 30 km ring circumference. The overall power loss budget isestimated at 30 dB.

In a typical maximum configuration system, approximately ⅓ of theoptical loss is in the fiber (˜9 dB) and approximately ⅓ the loss is inthe optical add/drop filters (16 band filters @0.5 db=8 dB). Theremainder of the 30 dB optical power budget is reserved for connectorloss, splices and aging of components.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a methodof establishing communication over an network employing wavelengthdivision multiplexing and having a plurality of nodes interconnected byan optical transmission medium capable of carrying a plurality ofwavelengths organized into bands, the method comprising the steps ofsending traffic destined for a remote node in a band associated with theremote node; passively forwarding said band at any intervening nodes;and dropping said band at said remote node to extract said trafficdestined therefor.

The invention still further provides an interface device for use in anoptical network employing wavelength division multiplexing, comprising ademultiplexer for dropping a predetermined band of wavelengths from thenetwork at a node, means for converting optical input signals from saiddemultiplexer to electrical output signals, means for generating opticaloutput signals from electrical input signals, a multiplexer for addingsaid optical output signals in a predetermined band to the network, saiddemultiplexer and multiplexer being arranged to forward passivelyoptical signals in bands other than said band that is dropped.

In another aspect the invention provides a fiber optic wavelengthdivision multiplexed ring comprising a plurality of switching nodes,means for generating a plurality of wavelengths organized in to bands onsaid ring, and means for transmitting maintenance channel data on atleast one of said wavelengths as a pilot tone.

The maintenance channel can conveniently be injected by modulating thebias current of the device generating the wavelengths, normally a laser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the physical layout of a wavelengthdivision multiplexed (WDM) bi-directional ring network;

FIG. 2 is a chart of the bands of wavelengths employed in a typicalsystem in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a block functional diagram of a network node;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram network node with an optical cross connectswitch;

FIG. 5 illustrates a ring showing the waveband connections;

FIG. 6 illustrates a ring showing protection switching;

FIG. 7 is an example of a hubbed connection pattern;

FIG. 8 is an example of a meshed connection pattern;

FIG. 9 illustrates a ring showing examples of payload signals;

FIG. 10 shows a bit rate consistency monitor;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a maintenance channel signal driver;

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the spectral density of each wavelength; and

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a distributed ATM switch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a WDM (Wavelength division Multiplexed) ringnetwork generally referenced 1 consists of two counter rotating rings 2,3 containing a plurality of nodes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 providing interfaces tothe rings 2, 3. It will be understood that FIG. 1 shows the physicallayout of the network. The rings 2, 3 physically consist of opticalfibers, which are capable of carrying multiple wavelengths generated bylasers in the nodes. The interconnectivity between the nodes is providedby WDM connections in a manner to be described.

Each ring may carry, for example, 16 or 32 wavelengths divided intoeight bands, which provide the interconnectivity between the nodes.Typically there are either two or four wavelengths per band. With eightbands, there are therefore a total of 16 wavelengths per ring for twowavelengths per band or 32 wavelengths in the case of four wavelengthsper band, for example, spaced at 1.6 nm with a guard band of 3.2 nm fora total spacing of 9.6 nm per band. FIG. 2 shows a typical distributionof bands and wavelengths. Typically the maximum number of nodes iseight, assuming eight bands.

Each node 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, adds/drops a predetermined band of wavelengthsspecific to that node. For example, node 6 might drop the 1.52411 to1.51948 μm band, which includes wavelengths at 1.52411, 1.52256,1.52102, and 1.51948 μm. In order to establish a path between node 4 andnode 6, node 4 transmits to node 6 in this band on both counter rotatingrings 2, 3. This band is passively reflected by nodes 5, 7, 8 andforwarded to node 6, which drops the band and extracts the traffic. Inaccordance with the principles of the invention, the bands of wavelengththus permit direct, protocol independent connections to be made betweenany nodes on the ring without the intervention of any intermediate node.The nodes on the ring can be interconnected in any traditional manner,for example, in star or mesh connections, by establishing wavebandconnections between desired pairs of nodes.

A typical node with a wavelength conversion function will be describedin more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

Demultiplexers 10 and multiplexers 11 are shown connected into the fiberoptic rings 2, 3. Demultiplexers 10 drop, and multiplexers 11 add, aspecific band of wavelengths associated with the node. Physically theMUX/DEMUX 10, 11 each consist of a single high performance opticalinterference filter that transmits the selected band to be dropped/addedand passively reflects the remaining bands. The filters can be, forexample, dichroic filters, Bragg grating filters based on circulators,and Bragg grating based on fused biconic taper. A suitable filter ismade by JDS Fitel of Ottawa, Canada. Such filters offer low through-pathloss (<1 dB), and reasonable (<2 db) add/drop loss. The bands 13 notdropped by the demultiplexers 10 are passively forwarded through thenode.

In physical terms, the bands 13 of wavelengths that are not destined fora particular node are passively reflected on to the next node and so onuntil they reach the destination node where they are dropped in themanner described.

The dropped band 12 from each ring 2, 3 is passed to a second fineoptical filter 19, which separates the dropped band into the individualwavelengths. The subdivided wavelengths are passed to electro-opticconverters 14, which generate electrical signals from the opticalinputs. The electric signals are then passed to digital cross connectswitch, which connects them to payload interface devices 16 providingaccess to the network. Alternatively, cross connect 15 permits switchingbetween different wavelengths or bands. In the latter case, the crossconnect 15 can be connected to additional MUX/DEMUX filters (not shown)provided at the same node for adding/dropping different bands either onthe same ring or a different ring.

The adding of a band works in the same way as the dropping of a band inreverse. Electrical signals are converted to optical form inelectro-optic converters 14 and passed to fine channel filters 18, whichcombine the specific band of wavelengths that it is desired to add. Theoutput 18 of these filters is passed to MUX 11 and combined with theforwarded bands 13. In physical terms, the added band(s) is/aretransmitted through the optical filter and combined with the forwardedbands 13, which are passively reflected.

The ‘optimum’ construction for a node filter is a 4, 6 or 10 port devicehaving an in port, out port and 1, 2 or 4 ‘drop’ ports and 1, 2 or 4‘add’ ports. As there are eight bands, there will be eight varieties ofthe device, one per band. One such device is used where ever a band isto be add/dropped. Each port corresponds to a specific wavelength.

The filter is a highly integrated passive optical device. The design andconstruction of the filter is such that 1 wavelength (approx. 1 nmBandwidth) is available from a ‘drop’ port and 1 wavelength (approx. 1nm Bandwidth) is added to an ‘add’ port. By using identical band filtersat two points on the ring, 1, 2 or 4 wavelengths can be used toimplement a bi-directional ‘communications’ pipe between those points.These pipes are independent of any other wavelengths on the fiber ringso long as no other nodes use the same band filters. Each wavelengthused in the system in effect serves as a transparent digital “bit pipe”.Any specific formatting of data in a wavelength is to be carried out bysub-tending equipment. The system is not protocol dependent. The presentinvention employs bands to provide protocol independent directconnections between nodes on a physical ring, which in physical termsneed not be adjacent.

FIG. 4 shows a similar arrangement to FIG. 3, except that theelectro-optical converters have been omitted and the cross connectswitch 115 is an optical switching device that performs opticalswitching and provides optical outputs to optical interfaces 116. Withoptical switching, wavelength conversion can be realized optically.Electro-absorption devices and/or semiconductor optical amplifiers(SOAs) may be used to perform the conversion.

Each node typically has at least one band filter, at least one laserdiode, driver and MTCE (maintenance channel modulator), at least one PINdiode receiver, transimpedance amplifier, limit amplifier and MTCEdemodulator, fine optical filters, a maintenance channel controlprocessor, with Ethernet port and node control HW, and a per wavelengthinterface to subtending equipment or test data generator (optionmodule). Optionally, a PLL data regenerator and cross-connect matrix canbe provided. A low frequency bandpass filter picks off the maintenancechannel data and it is demodulated by a PLL type FSK demodulator. Thedata stream then goes to the maintenance processor.

Each wavelength is driven by a DFB (Distributed Feedback) laser or Bragggrating reflector laser at a specific wavelength chosen to match thefilter characteristics. The output power of the laser is in the range of−3 dbm to a possible high of +6 dbm. Laser components may requirethermal stabilization (also providing a means of micro-tuning tospecific wavelengths). The laser is driven by a single chip controlcircuit that combines the monitor diode and bias requirements of thedevice. Typically these devices have a PECL differential input.

FIG. 5 shows one example of a connectivity diagram of a networkoperating in accordance with the invention. The nodes are physicallyinterconnected in a ring by counter-rotating optic fiber rings asdescribed with reference to FIG. 1. The bands of wavelengths provideddirect WDM protocol independent connections between non adjacent rings.In FIG. 5, band X connects node 5 to node 8 in both directions. Thismeans that node 5 and 8 add and drop band X, that is band X is passivelyreflected by the interference filter at node 4.

The invention also allows protection switching, with the bands acting asdirect connections between the nodes. FIG. 6 is an example of protectionswitching.

In FIG. 6, a band connects X two nodes via two diverse paths on oppositearcs 40, 41 of the ring 1. One of these arcs can be used to provide arestoration path for all of the wavelengths in the band in the event ofa failure of the other path. In FIG. 6, a band connects nodes A and C.The arc 40 via node B is used normally and the arc via nodes D-Z isspare. Node A and node C monitor the quality of the signals dropped fromthe band at each end of the connection. In the event of a failure of theconnections via node B, nodes A and C re-establish the connections vianodes-D-Z.

The drop nodes may use optical power measurements on each wavelength asa quality measure. If the optical power drops below a preset threshold,then a protection switch is triggered. This measurement is not dependenton the protocol or bit rate of the information carried on thewavelength.

Another quality measure that is protocol and bit-rate independent is aBit Rate Consistency Monitor. The drop node counts the number of bitsreceived over a given unit of time (long relative to the bit time of thelowest expected bit rate) and records the value of this count. If thevalue varies by more than some nominal amount, it is an indication thatthe channel is carrying noise and has therefore failed.

An example of a Bit Rate Consistency Monitor is shown in FIG. 10.Incoming serial data 50 is fed to edge counter 51, which inputs an M-bitcount to register 53. A reference clock, which has a repetition rate lowrelative to the minimum serial data rate, is input to register 53 and 54to latch the count samples n and n−1 and also to the counter to reset itbetween samples. Sample n from register 53 and sample n−1 from register54 are compared in comparator 55, which generates a true/outputdepending on the consistency of the incoming bit rate.

In order to coordinate the switching of the traffic, the nodes at eachend of the connection must communicate directly For example, in FIG. 6,if a failure of the connection is observed only at node C, then node Cmay have to communicate with node A to get the wavelengths that werebeing sent across the band via node B to be sent across the band vianode D-Z. This can be accomplished using one or more of the maintenancechannels that are carried on a pilot tone on each wavelength.

FIG. 7 shows a hubbed connection pattern as a further example of themanner in which the nodes can be interconnected in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention. In FIG. 7, node C (5) acts as thehub from which “connections” are established to other nodes overdedicated wavebands extending between the hub node 5 and the remainingnodes.

FIG. 8 shows a meshed arrangement, where the nodes are connected in theform of a mesh pattern. In all cases the wavebands act as bit pipesestablishing protocol independent high speed connections directlybetween nodes, which may be non-adjacent.

FIG. 9 shows examples of a signal payload that may be carried by a ringoperating in accordance with the invention. In FIG. 9, band 30establishes a protocol independent connection between nodes 4 and 7.This connection can carry SONET OC-3 traffic and Fiber channel trafficdirectly between the nodes. The system architecture does not need toknow anything about the protocols. The band 7 merely delivers a highspeed bit stream at node 7, which can be resolved into SONET and Fiberchannel streams at the far end node.

FIG. 9 also shows Gigabit Ethernet and SONET OC-48 traffic between sentbetween nodes 5 and 8. Again the ring is indifferent to the protocolsinvolved. The data is merely transported as a high speed bit stream overthe carrier wavelength without regard to the underlying protocol.

It is of course possible to cascade multiple rings, interconnecting themat common nodes. However, if many rings are cascaded, dispersion effectsand jitter effects on the electrical/optical signals may accumulate. Inorder to compensate for this, a re-generation stage may need to be addedto the cross-connect matrix at selected interconnect points. Thisre-generation device is a wide range PLL (phase-locked loop) that locksonto the incoming digital data stream, recovers a clock and uses theclock to re-generate the digital stream. It is not necessary for there-generator to know the specific format of the data in the stream, onlyto be able to lock onto the digital transitions and clean up the edgeswith respect to dispersion and jitter.

If the PLL requires setting for lock range or center frequency, this canbe accommodated by maintenance channel configuration messages that aredirected to the hardware that needs to be controlled.

A variety of external data sources can be connected to the data path foreach wavelength. This can include OC-3, OC-12, a proprietary interfacesuch as Newbridge ISL (Inter Shelf Links) and possibly Gigabit Ethernetsources.

As mentioned above, the wavelengths carry a maintenance channel, whichis driven by an FSK modulator originating directly from the maintenancechannel data stream.

In a multi-node WDM ring network the opportunity exists for overalloptimization economies that can be facilitated by the individual nodesbeing able to communicate with each other to exchange information thatis used to control the laser device by adjusting the fundamentaloperating parameters of the device and other optical elements that maybe used in such a network. Methods of local optimization of laserparameters have been discussed in the literature. However, this approachuses and end-to-end approach which is more complete in terms of beingable to adjust for network operating parameters. It also allowsconsideration to be given for specification tolerance reduction of othernetwork elements e.g. filter roll off centre frequency position and gainelements that may be present in such a ring configuration.

For each wavelength operating between two points in the WDM ring, thereis a laser source, an add filter (or portion of an add/drop filter),fibre transmission media a drop filter (or portion of an add/dropfilter), an optical detector and ancillary receive electronics to routethe signal to other portions of the system.

The laser source is controlled by setting a laser current threshold,modulation current level and operating temperature. The operatingwavelength is adjusted (by temp control) so as to provide maximum signalenergy to the detector at the far end. This procedure aligns the emittedwavelength with the combined cascade filter response so as to minimizesthe losses due to individual component tolerances. It also has thebenefit of any medium to long term wavelength variation of the laserfrom the system loss plan calculations.

The peak optical power and the extinction ratio (ER) is regulated andcontrolled by special electronic circuits or by an embeddedmicrocontroller. Laser slope efficiencies at bias level and at peaklevel can be measured by varying bias current and peak current in verysmall steps respectively. Such measurement allows the laser ER and peakpower to be frequently monitored and controlled.

Wavelength stability is attained by adjusting the laser operatingwavelength (e.g. adjusting laser operating temperature) while monitoringthe received power level at the receiving node. Since the WDM filtermodules have a narrow pass band (approximately 1 nm) for each wavelengthchannel and possesses other optical characteristics, it is possible toprecisely re-align the laser operating wavelength on a regular basis.

In certain circumstances when operating the same wavelength on twodifferent segments of the ring it may be necessary to set the operatingwavelengths at slightly different points so as to minimize ‘beat noise’(a coherent interference effect between optical sources). This noisefactor is overcome by having the operating wavelengths separated by comesmall amount (0.05 nm to 0.2 nm).

The other parameters of laser operation (threshold) and modulation depthare controlled end-to-end in such a way as to optimize the receive eyesignal for a given data rate. The maintenance signal that issuperimposed on the optical wavelength gives a means of measuring theerror performance of the mtce channel (which is directly proportional tothe error rate of the main data channel on the optical beam.). By meansof message feedback, the received signal condition state can be sentback to the laser transmitter so that corrective actions orstabilization routines can be run. The specific control routines aresoftware algorithms that run on the embedded processor that isassociated with the laser control circuitry. These control algorithmswill include both wavelength stabilization routines and received eyesignal optimization.

In a network of WDM laser sources and receivers (including drop/addfilters) it may be necessary to add amplification to individualwavelengths or groups of wavelengths so as to obtain sufficient opticalenergy to achieve a desired bit error rate at the receiver. In a knowntopology situation a number of EDFA elements could be added to thesystem to overcome transmission losses due to fibre and filter loss. Dueto the topology of the ring and the fact that it is a ringconfiguration, fixed gain blocks such as EDFA's may be difficult tospecify and may in fact impair the performance of some wavelengths inthe system.

A solution to the problem exists in the form of a SOA element combinedwith an electrically programmable attenuator element. This technologycan be obtained in discrete element form or integrated onto a siliconwaveguide structure. The SOA provides the pure gain required theprogrammable attenuator allows for signal level optimization on a nodeto node basis, independent of the levels required for any other node tonode level on the ring. The SOA/Attenuator combination may be applied atthe laser source (as a post-amplifier), the receiver (as apre-amplifier) or both.

In the event that it was desired to use EDFA elements as the gain blockin a fibre based ring system, the programmable attenuator could be usedto optimize the receive signal level at the receiver. It is felt thatthis would not provide as flexible a solution as the SOA/attenuatorsystem but would overcome the problem of individual channels gainadjustment that is required in such an amplified add/drop system.

In all cases the key to the system optimization is the ability for thesystem to communicate on the mtce channels between source/receiver pairsand to optimize via control algorithms the operating level of the signalin such a way as to obtain the best end-to-end performance and WDMnetwork management.

The maintenance and control processor of each node is a small computerboard that contains processor, ram, flash memory for program andapplication store and several serial interfaces (one per MTCE link). Theprocessor has an embedded DOS that is augmented with a TCP/IP routingand control module (Flexcom router and control switch). Since theFlexcom product is actually a Multi-tasking O/S operating in conjunctionwith the embedded DOS, several monitor and control functions specific tolaser operation and maintenance are integrated into this SW. A statusand reporting function is also incorporated.

By means of this switch, all nodes in a system may be controlled andmonitored by a remote PC that operates a Telnet session to eachprocessor. Maintenance traffic may also be routed through a maintenanceprocessor to other nodes or subtending equipment.

FIG. 11 shows the arrangement for creating the maintenance channel.Driver 90 for laser 91 has a bias input 92 that is modulated by FSKmodulator 93 receiving at its input the maintenance channel 95. The datachannel, which is all digital, is applied to the main input of thedriver 90.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 11 embeds a pilot tone on each wavelength,which may be of low bit rate (<256 kbps). This pilot tone is injectedinto the wavelength channel by modulation of the bias current by the FSKmodulator 93 that modulates the MTCE channel data stream into a sequenceof tones. Other carrier modulation systems such as QAM-64 or QAM-256 orOFDM may be used. The level of the pilot tone is approximately 20 dBbelow the main data path. The effect of the pilot tone on the BER of themain data channel, which is purely digital, is minimal since it iscarried on a portion of the spectral distribution curve well outside theportion carrying the high bit rate data (see FIG. 12).

The MTCE channel modulation ensures wavelength integrity between nodes,provides a power level estimate of wavelength link, provides node statusand monitoring (SNMP, RMON type messaging), distribution of networklevel timing synchronization, and SW & FW downloads for node processorsand sub-tended equipment.

Since the MTCE channel is modulated independently from the regular ‘datapipe’ channel, the MTCE does not need to know what the format of data inthe main channel is. This is extremely important in allowing formatindependence of end user applications and access.

The described arrangement provides a network capable of carrying data inthe terabit/sec range over distances of up to 30 km, and more whencascaded rings are provided. It also allows the components of high speedswitches, such as ATM switches, to be distributed over a campus widenetwork, resulting in substantial savings in trunk cards and processors.FIG. 13 is an example of such a distributed switch. Switch components100 are interconnected over ring 1 using nodes 110 interconnected in themanner described above.

We claim:
 1. A method of operating a set of interfaces in acommunications network, comprising: associating pairs of nodes of thenetwork with distinct bands of optical channels used for communicationbetween said pairs of nodes, adjacent bands of optical channels beingseparated by at least one optical channel which is not used forcommunication; configuring at least one interface to separate a selectedband of optical channels from non-selected bands of optical channels andpassively forwarding the non-selected bands of optical channels, thenon-selected bands being separated from the selected band by at leastone optical channel which is not used for communication; and configuringsaid at least one interface to combine a band of optical channels withthe passively forwarded non-selected bands of optical channels.
 2. Amethod as defined in claim 1, wherein said distinct wavelengths areselected according to a predetermined grid of wavelength channels whichare spaced uniformly in frequency, and adjacent bands are separated byat least one wavelength channel on said predetermined grid of wavelengthchannels which is not used for communication.
 3. A method as defined inclaim 2, wherein said adjacent bands are separated by at least twowavelength channels on said predetermined grid which are not used forcommunication.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:configuring said at least one interface to further separate theseparated band into individual optical channels; and configuring said atleast one interface to combine optical channels to assemble the band ofoptical channels which is combined by the band multiplexer withpassively forwarded non-selected bands of optical channels.
 5. A methodas defined in claim 4, further comprising configuring said at least oneinterface to connect a cross-connect switch to at least one of thechannel demultiplexer and the channel multiplexer.
 6. A method asdefined in claim 5, further comprising configuring said at least oneinterface to connect an opto-electronic converter between thecross-connect switch and the at least one of the channel demultiplexerand the channel multiplexer, the cross-connect switch being anelectrical switch.
 7. A method for operating a set of interfaces for usein a communications network in which pairs of nodes of the network areassociated with distinct bands of optical channels used forcommunication between said pairs of nodes, comprising: configuring atleast one interface to separate a selected band of optical channels fromnon-selected bands of optical channels and passively forwarding thenon-selected bands of optical channels; and configuring said at leastone interface to combine a band of optical channels with the passivelyforwarded non-selected bands of optical channels; the set of interfacesbeing constructed such that each band of optical channels comprises aplurality of distinct optical channels at respective distinctwavelengths, said distinct wavelengths being selected according to apredetermined grid of wavelength channels which are spaced uniformly infrequency, and adjacent bands are separated by at least one wavelengthchannel on said predetermined grid of wavelength channels which is notused for transmission.
 8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein saidadjacent bands are separated by at least two wavelength channels on saidpredetermined grid which are not used for transmission.